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Author Biography

Gareth Evans is an experienced Guitarist and teacher. Interested in Electric guitar, Classical and Bass. Some videos of his playing can be found on his website.

Book Review

Reviewed by Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite

Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video by Gareth Evans is an introductory book for children who know little or nothing about guitars. It illustrates how to hold a guitar, the parts of the guitar, and general use. The book is divided into sections that include learning tablature, chords and individual guitar notes. Although it could be confusing for a first time user being exposed to the various methods of playing, I think this is a valuable asset. Adults can help guide a child to learn the style most preferred for starting. But it also allows the musicians to learn other methods of guitar playing as they progress in their learning.

I’ve taught guitar to students for years, and found this to be an inviting book, colorful and fun enough to keep the excitement alive in a new musician. The instructions are easy to understand and the songs will be familiar to most young people. The other aspect this book brings is the music that can be played along with the lessons. This ranges from very beginner to basic, but incorporates a wide variety of music styles. This type of technology will likely help the students keep their interest in guitar playing longer, especially if they are able to play songs they are familiar with. It’s important that adults stay involved with the student’s learning, as no book can replace a teacher completely. Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video by Gareth Evans provides the resources needed for a foundation in guitar.

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Jack Magnus

Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video is an educational music instruction book for children written by Gareth Evans. Free downloadable audio and video files are easily accessible for use along with the lessons found in the book. Evans covers just about everything a kid needs to know about getting into guitar playing. He begins by describing the different types and sizes of guitars available and the differences between each type. The parts of the guitar are pointed out, and the correct ways to tune and hold your guitar are clearly demonstrated. Evans shows both the correct and incorrect ways to hold the guitar pick. He introduces tablature at the beginning of the coursework, rather than getting directly into sight-reading, to streamline the educational process and does get into sight-reading later on in the text. Each of the songs offered is demonstrated on a YouTube video. Evans also gives instruction on timing and how to correctly determine the length of notes.

Gareth Evans’ Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video had me remembering the guitar I got when I was a kid and wishing I could have had access to this book at the time. My reaction on watching the first of the YouTube videos that accompany this book was sheer awe. Evans understands the need for aspiring musicians to feel a connection to music -- and to get it quickly -- and his backup tracks and carefully selected songs make it happen. With practice, attention to timing and mastering the single notes needed, a beginning guitarist can experience the magic that is being part of the music -- from the very first lesson. I took a number of group guitar classes as a kid, and nothing came close to the caliber and quality of the instruction offered in this book. Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video is most highly recommended.

Samantha Dewitt (Rivera)

There’s a lot to know about buying a guitar and learning how to play it, but once you get started there’s definitely nothing more rewarding. With a good book that can help you through, step by step, so you can get from never playing a guitar in your life to playing a whole song for your family and friends, you can start to grow. With this book you’ll learn everything from how to select your guitar and hold it, to how to pluck the strings and read the music. You’ll start playing quickly and easily and you’ll have audio available so you can hear what it’s supposed to sound like (in case maybe it doesn’t). Guitar for Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video by Gareth Evans doesn’t need to just be for kids.

This is a book that anyone looking to play the guitar is going to want to check out. You can learn a lot about how to play and have some fun while you’re at it. Before you get to the end, you’re going to know everything you need to in order to have some fun with your guitar. Not only that, but you’re going to have all the knowledge you need to pick up another book and just start playing. This is going to be the only teaching guide that you’ll need and you’ll be playing songs by the end. What could be better than that? Guitar For Kids: First Steps in Learning to Play Guitar with Audio & Video by Gareth Evans gives you the book itself plus audio lessons that will help you hear what everything should sound like, so you can learn by hearing as well as reading.